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DAIZEE Samba Member
Joined: January 26, 2010 Posts: 7552 Location: Greater Toronto Area Ontario West Side
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Posted: Tue Jul 13, 2010 12:34 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks that is what I feel. It may very well but it may not BUT it is still a positive thing to do. _________________ '09 2.5L Jetta 5 cylinder, 5 spd, super turbo, see thread in H2O Cooled Jetta, etc...
83.5 Vanagon L Riviera Model with 98 1.9L TD AAZ 4 speed Daily Driver 3 out of 4 seasons (sold)
84 Vanagon GL Wolfsburg Westy WBX 4 speed (sold) |
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tclark Samba Member
Joined: November 21, 2005 Posts: 926
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Posted: Thu Jul 15, 2010 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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tclark wrote: |
seem like simple drill a hole in the collar & then tap the switch to take another lock screw, then the job is 5 mins |
I'll post a picture later but when I did the latest switch change today I made the above 15min fix while the collar was off & drilled a hole & put a set screw in the side of the metal housing , & this just goes into the base of the switch
now it just a 5 mins change ...
might be nice mod for anyone doing a switch change & want to keep the van for more than 3 years
( that is the MTBF of the china switches ) _________________ 89 Westy with TDI AHU 1.9 manual lots of mods
85 GL 1.9, auto (for sold) |
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86VWN00B Samba Member
Joined: June 19, 2010 Posts: 11 Location: PeeGee
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Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2010 5:54 pm Post subject: |
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Got the dash back together and she fired up first crank
Thanks for the photo essay on taking the dash out and doing the starter (and the heater).
I think I will still replace the starter as the new one is just sitting around anyhow... |
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indytriple Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2009 Posts: 710 Location: Brownsburg, Indiana
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Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 6:29 am Post subject: |
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Ben, thanks for the motivation and suggestion to do this. Did mine last night. Everything was pretty simple and straight forward. While I was in there I even fixed my intermittent horn, a ground at the base of the steering column, the mounting of my plastic steering column lower housing, and I found where the missing plastic thrust ring was causing play in my steering column. A new one is on the way. I probably wouldn't have discovered or fixed all of this without the suggestion to replace the $10 ignition switch. Thanks.
A little more piece of mind can go a long way. _________________ "See The Glass As Already Broken."
87 Vanagon Westy Auto Bostig
www.bluegrassbicyclecompany.com |
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RCB Samba Member
Joined: September 05, 2005 Posts: 4143 Location: San Francisco-Bay Area
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Posted: Sat Aug 21, 2010 6:49 am Post subject: |
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Ignition switches seem to be a hot topic now a days, either the original ones are crapping out or the quality control for the replacement ones isent up to par and they end up crapping out post haste.
What manufacture/company did you use for a replacement.... |
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Alaric.H Samba Member
Joined: March 28, 2009 Posts: 2529 Location: Sandy Springs GA
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Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 8:17 am Post subject: |
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I changed mine 1 year ago and then I had to change that one 2 days ago in the woods. They seem to all made in China now. |
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indytriple Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2009 Posts: 710 Location: Brownsburg, Indiana
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Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 8:28 am Post subject: |
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The one I just put in was a $10 Mehle one from GoWesty. _________________ "See The Glass As Already Broken."
87 Vanagon Westy Auto Bostig
www.bluegrassbicyclecompany.com |
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randywebb Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005 Posts: 3815 Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 11:40 am Post subject: |
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former dealer mechanics tell me they were always crap - they had to be replaced on new vans back in the 1980s; then re-replaced
makes you want to put in a red "Start" button... _________________ 1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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walnutplanter Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2008 Posts: 64 Location: Walla Walla, WA
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Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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Ben, you are the man. I love reading your posts. Please ignore the whiners. The Samba is less interesting when you are not on it. I have used your web postings on your site. Thanks for the instructions plus the great pictures. I appreciate your work and have made a donation to your web site. Thanks! |
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ftp2leta Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2004 Posts: 3271 Location: Montreal
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Posted: Sun Aug 22, 2010 7:55 pm Post subject: |
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indytriple wrote: |
Ben, thanks for the motivation and suggestion to do this. Did mine last night. Everything was pretty simple and straight forward. While I was in there I even fixed my intermittent horn, a ground at the base of the steering column, the mounting of my plastic steering column lower housing, and I found where the missing plastic thrust ring was causing play in my steering column. A new one is on the way. I probably wouldn't have discovered or fixed all of this without the suggestion to replace the $10 ignition switch. Thanks.
A little more piece of mind can go a long way. |
Thanks bro. Every single day i see new stuff, it amaze me how much I still learn about those aging van, this is why I still learn because not many people wok full time on aging vehicle! Aging mean new problem every single day. That is on top of the normal maintenance problem.
Those vans still fascinate me, each and every single day. The damage that "aging" is doing is impressive, not the common problem you would expect. it's always something new.
but overall I'm impress with the Vanagon! It's a strong van that will exceed it's life expectation by far, i would say another good 20 years.
Ben _________________ Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
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FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta |
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randywebb Samba Member
Joined: February 15, 2005 Posts: 3815 Location: Greater Metropolitan Nimrod, Orygun
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Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 10:34 pm Post subject: |
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This place:
[email protected]
has them for $9.89 on eBay; also says they take credit cards & say theirs are no cheap knockoffs.... _________________ 1986 2.1L Westy 2wd Auto Trans. |
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mariusstrom Samba Member
Joined: March 29, 2010 Posts: 745
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Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 10:51 pm Post subject: |
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Ok, since this thread is sitting on the top of the stack, I might as well bump it now.
I've got the parts ready to do this, but I'm curious about one thing - the safety/sheer bolts on the steering column. Ben's page says to just use Vice-Grips to remove them, but I'm wondering if people are replacing them with regular old bolts, or are they Vice-Gripping them back on?
-M _________________ Marius Strom Otto: 1988 Vanagon Syncro Westy Camper
[SOLD] Felix: 1967 Deluxe Beetle |
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syncrodoka Samba Member
Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 11998 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Thu Aug 26, 2010 11:02 pm Post subject: |
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The shear bolts are for a theft deterrant. The shear section breakes off once it is torqued and the bolt isn't easily removed with standard tools. A standard bolt can be used in it's place if you want though. |
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indytriple Samba Member
Joined: April 27, 2009 Posts: 710 Location: Brownsburg, Indiana
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 6:03 am Post subject: |
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You won't need to touch the shear bolts to do an ignition switch. Ben's instructions have that because they are instructions for removing the entire dash.
Don't touch 'em if ya don't have to! Good luck. I found this job to be pretty easy. _________________ "See The Glass As Already Broken."
87 Vanagon Westy Auto Bostig
www.bluegrassbicyclecompany.com |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7733 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 7:04 am Post subject: |
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Mine's on order - Meyle, $6 from BusDepot, and practically free shipping because I needed a bunch of other stuff, too...
I'll keep it in the glove box & swap when the trouble arrives... _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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Volksaholic Samba Member
Joined: December 26, 2005 Posts: 1771 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 7:50 am Post subject: |
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mariusstrom wrote: |
I've got the parts ready to do this, but I'm curious about one thing - the safety/sheer bolts on the steering column. Ben's page says to just use Vice-Grips to remove them, but I'm wondering if people are replacing them with regular old bolts, or are they Vice-Gripping them back on? |
When I removed the dash in my '85 I Vice Gripped the shear bolts off and back on again. As near as I could tell they're a standard bolt other than the head. They are a theft deterrent, as has been stated... I've seen some folks debate whether they are designed to "shear" in an accident but I didn't see any indication that they would break free if you hit the steering wheel.
I've got to pull the '88 dash before Winter and replace the heater blower. I also have headlight relays to install... that can be done with the dash on but it's sure easier to do with the dash off.
I could be wrong, but I think the biggest problem with the ignition switch is the fact that it carries the full load to the starter solenoid (I imagine someone said this 3 or 4 pages back). While doing the Subie conversion I ran wiring for a starter relay to sit under the bench by the ECU. That will virtually remove all the load from the ignition switch and shorten the path to the starter... if you want a long-term fix to ignition switch/starter problems I believe that's the ticket. If you've got stock wiring you can buy a relay/contactor that's designed to mount in the elements by the starter and pull the power from the battery cable to achieve the same result.
Paul _________________ 1988 Wolfsburg Edition, 2001 Subaru EJ251 |
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edgood1 Samba Member
Joined: September 30, 2004 Posts: 2048 Location: Plymouth, MA
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 8:02 am Post subject: |
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They call them shear bolts because they are sheared off a bigger nut at a certain torque when originally installed. They are a theft deterrent, nothing more. I replaced mine with regular bolts.
I just got a switch from Van Cafe. The manufacturer logo was scratched off...which leads me to believe its meyle. I've been seeing that on a lot of meyle parts lately...probably because they say Germany...when in fact they are being sold out of other countries now. _________________ 1987 Syncro Westfalia powered by Subaru
1963 Panel to Deluxe Bus project :::: (photo album)
'65 Westfalia |
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schoonerman Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2008 Posts: 244 Location: vancouver
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 11:40 am Post subject: |
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Thanks Ben for the great info, I will be ordering mine today.
Please keep all your tips coming, I don't care how you write them up they are very valuable to us limited mechanics and to hell with those pricks who just love to mouth off
keep smiling _________________ 87 Westy/Vanagon |
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dhaavers Samba Member
Joined: March 19, 2010 Posts: 7733 Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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schoonerman wrote: |
Thanks Ben for the great info...Please keep all your tips coming, I don't care how you write them up they are very valuable to us limited mechanics...keep smiling... |
x2...<Amen> _________________ 86 White Wolfsburg Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"
<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS> |
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ftp2leta Samba Member
Joined: October 11, 2004 Posts: 3271 Location: Montreal
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Posted: Fri Aug 27, 2010 5:42 pm Post subject: |
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schoonerman wrote: |
Thanks Ben for the great info, I will be ordering mine today.
Please keep all your tips coming, I don't care how you write them up they are very valuable to us limited mechanics and to hell with those pricks who just love to mouth off
keep smiling |
I try my best.
For most of you, English is the only spoken language you will ever need, for us, up here... well, we are surrounded by 330 millions English speaking folks so no choice if you want to evolve. Some would say that western Europe fit nicely in the US (size) and there they have over 10 different language and they have no problem dealing with each other.
funny, language is a difficult thing to learn. I'm in admiration with those who manage more than 2.
Irrelevant to the thread it is.
What is not Is that I had to replace 3 more switch in the past month.
Regards, Ben _________________ Working with rust, grease, dirt and dust is a sad truth.
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FI part for sale: http://www.benplace.com/parts_sale1.htm
My site: http://www.benplace.com/vw2.htm
Subi conversion: http://www.benplace.com/vanaru_eng.htm
Youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/ftp2leta |
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